Fabric treating apparatus



A. BERTOLDI FABRIC TREAT ING APPARATUS Nov. 4, 1969 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1967 INVENTOR ATT'lua amToLD/ BY v ATTORNEY Nov. 4, 1969 A. BERTOLDI 3,475,927

FABRIC TREATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Arr/ 10 BEIZTULOI ATTORNEY Nov. 4, 1969 A. BERTQLDI 3,475,927

FABRIC TREAT ING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR flTT/L/ 0 5E ICToL 0/ ATTORNEY Nov. 4, 1969 A. BERTOLDI 3,475,927

FABRIC TREATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR fl-TT/L/ 0 B/E/c/U -D/ BYE +2 ATTORNEY Nov. 4, 1969 A. BERTOLDI 3,475,927

FABRIC TREATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 o O I 0 O 402 *'-IIII 0 o I 407 40s I I 407 I I I 405 406 I I K 405 f: I

INVENTOR A TT/ c 55mm Mw M ATTORNEY Nov. 4, 1969 B RTOLD. 3,475,927

FABRIC TREATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR /I-7TI I 0 5527mm ATTORNEY Nov. 4, 1969 A. BERTOLDI 3,475,927

FABRIC TREATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1967: 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 C) O O 600 604- 601 603 e17 O o e05 e10 ATTORNEY United States Patent FABRIC TREATING APPARATUS Attilio Bertoldi, Via Luzzago 27, Manerbio, Brescia, Italy Filed Sept. 5, 1967, Ser. No. 665,564 Claims priority, application Italy, Sept. 6, 1966, 22,096/ 66; Dec. 30, 1966, A 31,761/ 66; July 14, 1967, A 18,392/67 Int. Cl. D06f 45/12, 35/00 US. Cl. 68-18 28 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for subjecting fabric to treatment such as Washing, fulling, felting, milling, or the like, the fabric being either in a rope or twist form, or in the form of a woven sheet of fabric. During its treatment, the fabric passes through a passage means at least part of which is defined by a pair of opposed surfaces between which the fabric advances. One of these surfaces of the passage means is composed of a series of compressing elements which are arranged closely adjacent to each other in a row distributed longitudinally along the passage means, and each compressing element extends transversely of the passage means. The series of compressing elements include first and second sets of compressing elements with the elements of the first set respectively alternating with and situated between the elements of the second set. A reciprocating means is operatively connected to the compressing elements which form one of the opposed surfaces of the passage means for reciprocating all of these elements toward and away from the other of the opposed surfaces of the passage means in a manner displacing the first set of compressing elements simultaneously but oppositely to the second set of compressing elements so that the compressing elements carry out and undulatory motion while compressing and releasing the fabric in the passage means during the treatment thereof. A liquid-supply means is located over the passage means which forms a treating means in which the fabric is treated not only by the compressing elements but also with liquid derived from the liquid-supply means, this treating means providing for free downward movement of the treating liquid through a fabric, and a collecting tank is situated beneath the treating means to collect the liquid which passes downwardly therethrough. A discharge means communicates with the collecting tank for discharging liquid therefrom and a recirculating means also communicates with the collecting tank for recirculating treating liquid therefrom back to the liquid-supply means. A valve means communicates with the collecting tank, the discharge means, and the recirculating means has a pair of positions in one of which it establishes communication between the discharge means and the collecting tank and in the other of which it establishes communication between the recirculating means and the collecting tank, so that in this way the liquid which is received in the collecting tank can either be discharged or recirculated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to fabric treating apparatus.

In particular, the present invention relates to apparatus for subjecting fabric to treatments such as washing, fulling, milling, or the like.

The fabric which is treated according to the present invention can either take the form of a rope or twist or it may take the form of a woven sheet of fabric. This fabric may be made of wool or of mixtures which include wool.

Although there are well-known machines for carrying out fabric treatment of the above type, the known machines are not as efficient as is desired. They require a considerable amount of time for carrying out the necessary treatments and they are limited with respect to the range of treatments which can be provided by way of these known machines. Furthermore, with the known machines, it is not possible to direct treating liquid to the fabric precisely at the most desirable locations such as, for example, the places where the fabric is actually compressed during its treatment. Furthermore, with known machines it is diflicult to carry out a continuous fabric processing since the operations must be interrupted when the fabric is transported from one treating apparatus to another treating apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a primary object of the invention to provide an apparatus which will avoid the above drawbacks.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a fabric treating apparatus which will have a much higher efficiency than conventional fabric treating apparatus of the above general type, the apparatus of the invention being capable of treating the fabric in less time than conventional apparatus without sacrificing the quality of the treatment while at the same time being capable of providing a range of different treatments far wider than has heretofore been possible with conventional apparatus.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a rhythmic undulatory compression of the fabric during the treatment thereof with the possibility of introducing treating liquid directly to the fabric which is compressed.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a treating apparatus in the form of a machine which lends itself to combinations with other machines, arranged in cascade, for example, with the fabric being capable of passing continuously from one machine to the next with only devices such as fabric-squeezing devices in the form of simple rollers situated between these successive machines, so that in this way the apparatus of the invention lends itself to continuous treatment of fabrics.

In addition, it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus capable of treating fabrics either in rope form or in woven form.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus capable of being used for felt height milling in connection with paper mills.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a fabric treating apparatus in which the treating liquid can be recirculated or discharged and which permits the operation of the apparatus to be accelerated as compared with conventional apparatus.

The apparatus 'of the invention includes a passage means defining a given path along which the fabric is advanced during the treatment thereof. This passage means is at least partly defined by a pair of opposed surfaces between which the fabric advances during its treatment, and one of these opposed surfaces is composed at least in part of a series of compressing elements arranged in a row closely adjacent to each other longitudinally along passage means with each compressing element extending transversely of the passage means which is of an elongated configuration and has an entrance end and a discharge end, the fabric entering the passage means through the entrance end and leaving the passage means through the discharge end thereof. The series of compressing elements are themselves divided into two sets of compressing elements with the elements of one set respectively alternating with and situated between the elements of the other set, and, in accordance with the invention, a reciprocating means is operatively connected with all of the compressing elements for reciprocating the latter toward and away from the other of the opposed surfaces which define the passage means, this reciprocating means reciprocating one set of compressing elements toward and away from the latter opposed surface while simultaneously reciprocating the other set away from and toward this latter surface of the passage means, so that in this way while all of the compressing elements are simultaneously reciprocated one set of compressing elements always moves oppositely to the other set, thus achieving a rhythmic, undulatory compression of the fabric as it advances through the passage means. Thus, the structure for alternately compressing and releasing the fabric forms a treating means, and this treating means is designed to provide for the passage of treating liquid freely in a direction downwardly through the treating means itself, a liquid-supply means being located over the treating means for supplying treating liquid thereto for movement downwardly therethrough. A collecting tank means is situated beneath the treating means for collecting the treating liquid which has passed therethrough. A discharge means communicates with the collecting tank means for discharging liquid therefrom and a recirculating means communicates with the collecting tank means as Well as with the liquid-supply means for recirculating treating liquid from the collecting tank means back to the liquid-supply means. A valve means communicates with a discharge means, the recirculating means, and the collecting tank means and has a pair of positions in one of which it establishes communication between the discharge means and the collecting tank means for discharging liquid therefrom and in the other of which it establishes communication between the recirculating means and the collecting tank means for recirculating the treating liquid. Thus, with this structure of the invention it is possible either to discharge the treating liquid or to recirculate the treating liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS I The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates in a longitudinal vertical section one possible embodiment of a treating apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of some of the compressing elements of FIG. 1 taken along line II--II of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a schematic fragmentary side elevation of a different embodiment of compressing elements of the invention;

FIG, 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a further embodiment of compressing elements according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 is also a schematic longitudinal sectional illustration of a machine according to the invention, FIG. 5 illustrating in particular how the treating liquid is handled with the machine of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic side view, with parts broken away and other parts in sectional view, of a first variant for the main patent subject;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic side view of a modified embodiment of the means for driving the set of rollers;

FIG. 8 is a partial view of FIG. 7, the view being a sectional view according to line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7 and limited to line BB;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic side view showing a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view according to line XX of FIG. 9, which section is limited to line A-A of said last mentioned figure;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic side view showing a different embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic side view of a further embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, the machine 1 which is illustrated therein is capable of being used for fabric treatments such as washing, fulling, felting, milling, and the like. The apparatus of FIG. 1 includes a troughshaped container 2 having a hollow interior space or collecting tank 3 and including a pair of opposed side walls 4, one of which is visible in FIG, 1. These opposed side walls carry bearings which serve to support a pair of feed rolls 5 and 6 for rotary movement, these feed rolls respectively being fixed to shafts 10 and 24 which are respectively supported for rotary movement in the bearings which are carried by the side walls 4. These feed rolls form a feed means for feeding the fabric which is to be treated into a passage means of the invention which is described below, and in fact the feed means 5, 6 forms the only means for advancing the fabric through the passage means or treating means of the invention. The feed rolls 5 and 6 are in the form of cylinders one of which, such as the roll 6, for example, is driven by an electric motor (not shown), preferably through a speed-changing transmission which may operate in a continuous or discontinuous manner thus enabling the feed roll 6 to be provided with different speeds. The speed-change gearing also is not illustrated. The feed roll 6 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, while the roll 5 rotates in a clockwise direction and is either pressed toward the feed roll 6 to derive its rotary motion therefrom or the feed roll 5 may be independently driven instead of forming an idler which is freely rotatable. Thus, the bearings at the walls 4 which support the shaft 10 for rotary movement may be supported at these walls 4 for movement toward and away from the roll 6 and suitable springs may act on these bearings to urge them downwardly, as viewed in FIG. 1, so that in this way the feed roll 5 is urged toward the roll 6.

The fabric 7 which is to be treated can take the form of a sheet of woven fabric having its ends connected together so as to form an endless loop, although in the illustrated example the fabric 7 is illustrated in the form of a rope or twist which also has its ends connected together so as to form a loop. The fabric 7 passes between the feed rolls 5 and 6 to be fed thereby to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, and it is compressed between these feed rolls to an extent which can be adjusted with structures already known to those skilled in the art.

The fabric is delivered by the feed rolls or feed means 5, 6 to the entrance end situated at the feed means 5, 6. Thus, the fabric passes through the entrance end of the passage means 8 to advance longitudinally therealong. The passage means 8 includes at its upper part a frame 9 in the form of a slipper which at its right end, as viewed in FIG. 1, is provided with rings through which the shaft 10 passes, so that the shaft 10 forms a pivotal support for the frame 9 and the latter can swing about the axis of the feed roll 5. The frame 9 is provided at the upper part of the passage means 8 with a wall 11 having an inner surface which defines part of the surface of the passage means 8. The wall 11 is flat. Beyond the wall 11, to the left thereof as viewed in FIG. 1, the frame 9 includes a frame portion 13 which supports for free rotary movement a series of idle rollers 12, these idle rollers 12 being arranged in a row longitudinally of the passage means 8 along the path of movement of the fabric during the treatment thereof. The frame portion 13 includes, for example, spaced side walls between which the idle rollers 12 are situated, and these rollers 12 are slightly spaced from each other so as to define for the passage means spaces through which treating liquid can flow downwardly through the treating means formed by the structure. The frame portion 13 is fixed rigidly to that part of the frame 9 which is swingable about the shaft 10, and one of the walls of the frame 13 is fixed to a pivot 14 which serves to pivotally connect the frame portion 13 to a piston rod which is connected to a piston slidable in a double-acting pneumatic cylinder 15 which is itself pivotally supported at the upper wall 17 of the apparatus by a pivot 16. Thus, the casing or housing 2 of the machine 1 has a top wall 17 which fixedly carries the pivot 16 by means of which the pneumatic cylinder 15 is pivotally connected to the wall 17. By means of a pneumatic circuit which is not illustrated and which communicates with the cylinder 15, it is possible to displace the piston therein so as to raise or lower the frame 9 while turning the latter about the axis of the feed roll 5, and through this pneumatic adjusting structure it is possible to exert a predetermined pressure on the fabric as well as to raise the frame 9 to relieve this pressure. The piston within the cylinder 15 may be locked therein at any desired location so as to maintain the frame 9 at a given position, and in this way the position of the idle rollers 12 is determined. These rollers 12 form part of one of a pair of opposed surfaces of the passage means 8.

A liquid-supply means is situated over the frame 9 so as to direct treating liquid for movement through the fabric during the treatment thereof. This liquid-supply means includes a header 18 connected, for example, to flexible hoses through which treating liquid is delivered to the header 18, and the header 18 carries a plurality of supply nozzles 19 through which the treating liquid issues in a downward direction for movement through the spaces between the idle rollers 12 directly into engagement with the fabric 7 during the actual compression thereof. The treating liquid may, for example, be water and soapy solution. Thus this treating liquid will engage the rollers 12 and upon passing through the gaps therebetween will soak the fabric precisely at the area where it is rhythmically and alternately compressed and released in a manner described below.

The lower surface of the passage means 8 which is opposed to the upper surface thereof defined by the wall 11 and the rollers 12 is formed by a flat wall 21 which is situated opposite the wall 11 and spaced therefrom as well as by a series of compressing elements 20-20e in the example illustrated in FIG. 1. The frame 9 includes a pair of swingable arms which are fixed to each other and which carry the lower wall 21 at the region of the entrance end of the passage means 8, these arms respectively having at their right ends rings which surround the shaft 24 of the lower feed roll 6, so that the arms are swingable about the axis of the lower roll 6. These swingable arms, in addition to carrying the wall 21, carry a bearing structure in the form of a pair of bearings which serve to suport for free rotary movement the first compressing element 20 of this series of compressing elements. In the illustrated example the series of compressing elements 20-202 are in the form of freely rotatable rollers. Thus, the first roller 20 of the series swings together with the swingable arms and the lower wall 21 whose upper surface defines part of the passage means 8. At the sides of the casing 2, where the walls 4 are situated, the ends of the shaft which carries the freely rotatable compressing element 20 and which may be affixed to or integral therewith are supported for free rotary movement in bearings which are respectively carried by the top ends of a pair of parallel reciprocating rods 24 one of which is shown in FIG. 1. These reciprocating rods, as well as the remaining reciprocating rods 24a-24d and 65, referred to below, are situated beyond the collecting tank 3 which is schematically shown in FIG. 1 situated beneath the compressing elements for receiving the treating liquid after it has passed through the fabric. The lower ends of the reciprocating rods 24', which are directed away from the upper surface of the passage means 8, are respectively pivotally connected at 25 to a pair of bell cranks 27 which are pivotally supported at 2-6 on the pair of walls 4, respectively, for free swinging movement about a common stationary horizontal axis which is perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1, so that in this way these bell cranks 27 form a pair of swing-levers operatively connected with the reciprocating rods 24. The ends of the pair of bell cranks 27 which are distant from the reciprocating rods 24' are pivotally connected at 28 to a pair of links 29 whose ends which are distant from the bell cranks 27 are pivotally connected to the free ends of a pair of crank levers in the from of bell cranks 30 supported for free turning movement about a common horizontal axis by way of the pivotal supports 31 which serve to pivotally mount the pair of bell cranks 30 on the pair of walls 4. The other arms of the bell cranks 30 are respectively connected with a pair of connecting rods 32, although one connecting rod 32 may be connected to one of the bell cranks 30, if desired. Each connecting rod 32 is pivotally connected at its left end, as viewed in FIG. 1, to a block which is slidable along an elongated slot 31a which is formed in each bell crank 30, and this block may be fixed through suitable setscrews, for example, at a selected location along each slot 31a, so that in this way the are through which the bell cranks 30 swing can be adjusted. The ends of the rods 32 which are distant from the bell cranks 30 are pivotally connected to a pair of rotary crank discs 33 rotated through any suitable drive with the connection of the rods 32 being displaced from the common axis of the discs 33, so that in this way the latter form cranks for swinging the bell cranks 30 back and forth about their common horizontal axis, and this swinging motion will of course be transmitted through the links 29 to the bell cranks 27 which will in turn serve to reciprocate the rods 24' up and down, so that in this way the compressing element 20 is also reciprocated up and down, as viewed in FIG. 1. During this reciprocation of the first compressing element 20 of the series 2020e, the supporting arms of course swing about the shaft 24 together with the lower surface of the passage means 8. The adjustable connection of the connecting rods 32 with respect to the bell cranks 30 forms an adjusting means for adjusting the strokes through which the compressing element 20 is reciprocated. The pair of crank discs 33 may be driven by any engine, motor, or the like, and a suitable speed-change gearing acting in a continuous or discontinuous manner may be provided in the transmission of rotary motion to the discs 33, so that their speed of rotation can be suitably regulated.

The ends of the first compressing element 20 are pivotally connected to a pair of connecting links 40 which distant from the first element 20 are pivotally connected to a shaft fixed to and projecting from the ends of the second compressing element 20a, so that in this way the second compressing element 20a, also in the form of a freely rotatable roller, is linked to the compressing element 20. Thus, the links 40 may carry suitable ball bearings which receive the ends of the shafts which project from the compressing rolls 20 and 20a. Thus, the compressing roller 20a has a shaft 23a which is received in bearings at the ends of the links 40 so that it is freely rotatable. The roller 20 has a shaft 23 which is received in bearings at the upper ends of the reciprocating rods 24 as well as in bearings at the ends of the links 40.

A similar pair of connecting links 40a extend between and join the shafts 23a and 23b of the pair of successive compressing elements 20a and 20b, and this second set of connecting links 40a also carry at their ends ball bearings or the like which receive the ends of the shafts 23a and 2312 which are respectively fixed to the rollers 20a and 20b. In the same way the successive pairs of compressing elements 20c, 20d and 20s are linked together by links 40b, 40c and 40d, as is clearly illustrated in FIG. 2. In this way, the lower surface of the passage means 8 which is situated beyond the lower wall 21 thereof is defined by a series of compression elements which are pivotally interconnected with each other in the manner of the links of a sprocket chain. In effect, a chain of compression rollers 20-20e is provided in the illustrated example.

The shaft 23a of the roller 20a is received at its ends also in bearings carried by the upper ends of a pair of aligned reciprocating rods 24a, the shaft 23b of the roller 20b is received at its ends in roller bearings located at the top ends of a pair of aligned reciprocating rods 24b, and in the same way successive reciprocating rods 24c and 24d are connected to the compressing elements 20c and 20d, while a pair of end reciprocating rods 65 identical with the rods 24-24d are pivotally connected at their top ends through suitable roller hearings to the shaft of the end roller 20a. The top ends of the reciprocating rods 24b24a' are also illustrated in FIG. 2.

All of these reciprocating rods are directed away from the upper surface of the passage means 8 in a downward direction, and their lower ends are pivotally connected to swing-levers. Thus, the lower end of each reciprocating rod 65 is pivotally connected to a bell crank 63 which is pivoted at 64, a pair of such bell cranks being provided with a common stationary turning axis and being pivotally connected to the pair of aligned reciprocating rods 65, so that in this way the first rod 24 and the last rod 65 of the series of reciprocating rods are all pivotally connected to bell cranks which form the swing-levers for the first and last rods of the series. The intermediate rods 24a-24d are pivotally connected to T-levers which form the swinglevers therefor. Thus, the rods 24a and 24b are pivotally connected at their lower ends to the ends 45 and 46 at the cross-arm of a swingable T-lever 47 which is pivoted at 48 and which has a downwardly directed arm pivotally connected at 48a to a link 50 interconnecting the swinglever 47 with the bell crank 27. In the same way a T- lever 60 is pivotally connected with the reciprocating rods 24c and 24d and has its downwardly directed arm pivotally connected at 60a to a link 49 which is also connected at 48a to the swing-lever 47. In this way the swing levers 60 and 47 are linked together. Finally, a link 61 interconnects each swing-lever 60 with its adjoining swing-lever 63, each bell crank 63 being pivotally connected at 62 to the link 61 which is pivotally connected at 60a to the T-lever 60. Thus, the lever-and-linkage assembly shown in FIG. 1 is duplicated at both sides of the machine and forms together with the reciprocating rods a reciprocating means for reciprocating the compressing elements 20a-20e.

During the swinging of the crank lever 30 back and forth through an arc whose size is determined by the connection of the connecting rod 32 at the slot 31a to the crank lever 30, the entire series of links 50, 49, and 61 at each side of the machine will reciprocate in a substantially horizontal direction back and forth so as to provide corresponding swinging movements of the swinglevers 27, 47, 60 and 63. All of these swing-levers will turn together in the same directions and through the same arcs, and it is apparent that the reciprocating rods 24, 24b, and 24d will move upwardly in unison while at the same time the rods 65, 24a, 65 and 24c will move downwardly, and when the rods 65, 24a, 65 and 240 move upwardly, the remaining reciprocating rods will simultaneously be displaced downwardly. In this way the compressing elements 20-20e are divided into a pair of sets of compressing elements with the elements of one set alternating with the elements of the other set and simultaneously reciprocating in opposite directions so that a rhythmic, undulatory compression of the fabric is achieved between the lower surface of the passage means 8, defined by the compressing elements 20-20e, and the upper surface thereof defined by the idler rollers 12.

Thus, as may be seen from FIG. 1, the series of compressing elements 2020e are arranged in such a way that one set of compressing elements compress the fabric while the other set releases its pressure on the fabric while during the next reciprocation these rolls are reversed with the compressing elements which just compressed the fabric moving away from the latter while those compressing elements which just released the fabric move back into compressing engagement therewith. In this way a rhythmic alternating movement of the compressing elements to and from the fabric within the passage means 8 is achieved.

The embodiment which is illustrated in FIG. 3 operates in precisely the same manner, the only difference being that the several reciprocating rods are replaced by rods 103 which fixedly carry at their upper ends U-shaped elements 102 which have upwardly directed legs carrying bearing which serve to support pairs of compressing members and 101. Thus, in this case each compressing element is formed by a pair of freely rotatable compressing rollers 100 and 101 which move in unison, and the successive compressing elements in this case also are hingedly interconnected by links 104 so that this construction also forms a structure similar to a sprocket chain, the only difference being that the pairs of rollers 100 and 101 constitute the several compressing elements, respectively.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the compressing elements are formed by plates 104 and are also arranged in a series in a row which is distributed longitudinally of the elongated passage means 8, and each compressing plate 104 has a pair of opposed side edges extending transversely of the passage means and curved away from the upper surface thereof. Between these curved side edges each compressing plate 104 has an upper fiat surface which engages the fabric to compress the latter. The cornpressing plates 104 of this embodiment are fixedly carried by reciprocating rods 105 which correspond to the reciprocating rods of FIG. 1, and the several reciprocating assemblies are hingedly interconnected with each other by ways of links 106 which are pivoted at 107 to the successive rods 105 in the manner shown in FIG. 4, so that in this way also an interconnection similar to that of a sprocket chain is achieved and the same rhythmic, undulatory compression is provided with 'FIG. 4 as with the other embodiments. Of course, other changes may be made in the structure without departing from the invention.

The fabric 7 which is to be treated is fed only by the feed means 5, 6 through the entrance end of the passage means 8 into the latter to advance therealong while being rhythmically compressed, and the treated fabric issues from the left discharge end of the passage means 8, as viewed in FIG. 1, to move downwardly along the bottom of the hollow interior 3 of the casing 2 before again rising to pass through the treating means, so that in this way the loop of fabric can be treated as long as desired before being removed from the apparatus. During the treatment of the fabric the upper wall of the passage means 8 may be acted upon by the pneumatic means 15 to vary the compression of the fabric, and instead of being pneumatically operated the means 15 can also be hydraulically operated or a suitable mechanical drive can be provided. It will be noted that with the structure of the invention, only a single crank drive 30-33 is required from achieving the reciprocating strokes of all of the compressing elements. Furthermore, it is a simple matter to adjust the strokes through which the compressing elements are reciprocated. In addition, in order to modify the frequency with which the fabric is treated by the compressing elements, it is possible to adjust the rate at which the fabric is fed into the passage means 8 by the feed means 5, 6, through a suitable adjustment of the drive of the feed means 5, 6. The speed of reciprocation of the compressing elements can also be regulated.

While in the case of FIG. 1 the passage means 8 isshown as being inclined slightly downwardly toward the left, any other inclination can be provided, and the passage means can even be arranged vertically. Furthermore, as was pointed out above, a woven sheet of fabric can be treated as by being washed, milled, fulled, or felted. It is also contemplated to provide with the present invention an apparatus for continuously washing and/or milling the fabric, the fabric being treated in a manner described above and then passing through squeeze rolls or the like to then be washed and/or milled.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the washing and/ or milling machine 201 has feed rolls 202 and 203 corresponding to the rolls and 6, and the fabric 204 passes between these feed rolls to be treated in the manner described above. These feed rolls 202 and 203 introduce the fabric into a passage means defined at one of a pair of opposed surfaces thereof by a set of idler rolls 205 and at the other of this pair of opposed surfaces by the rhythmically alternating and undulating compressing elements 206 in the forms of rolls which are reciprocated in the manner described above in connection with FIG. 1. The passage through which the fabric is fed by the feed means 202, 203 forms a treating means for providing for free downward passage of treating liquid through the treating means and the fabric therein. The liquid which has passed downwardly through the treating means and in particular through the spaces between the rolls 205 and 206 thereof is received in a collecting tank means 207 having a bottom outlet 208 connected through a valve means described below with a discharge means 212 in the form of a suitable discharge conduit connected to any suitable outlet and to a conduit 210- forming part of a recirculating means the further details of which are also described below. The valve means which is capable of providing an alternate communication between the discharge means 212 and the recirculating means which includes the conduit 210 is in the form of a pneumatic valve structure including a pair of pneumatically-actuated valves 209 and 211. Each of the valves 209 and 211 includes a valve member 213 slidable in a cylinder 218 having a transverse wall 216 through which a valve stem 214 is slidable, the valve stem 214 of each valve being connected at the side of the transverse wall 216 opposite from the valve member 213 with a piston 217 slidable in the cylinder 218. The pneumatic circuit which coacts with the pneumatic cylinder 218 is actuated in such a way that when the valve member 213 of the valve 211 is displaced to the right, as viewed in FIG. 5, to establish communication between the tank means 207 and the discharge means 212, the valve member 213 of the valve 209 is in its closed position cutting off communication between the conduit 2 10 and the outlet 208. On the other hand, this valve means has a second position where the valve 209 is displaced to the left, as viewed in FIG. 5, while the valve 211 cuts off communication between the discharge means 212 and the tank means 207, so that in this position of the valve means communication is established thereby between the tank means 207 and the conduit 210 of the recirculating means.

This recirculating means includes, in addition to the conduit 210, a vessel 219 having a top open end for receiving liquid from the conduit 210, and within this vessel is situated a heating means 220 in the form of a suitable heating coil through which steam, derived from any suitable source, may flow so as to provide in this way heating of the liquid within the vessel 219. At its top end the vessel 219 may be provided with a filter 221 in the form of a suitable mesh or the like.

The vessel 219 of the recirculating means communicates through a conduit 222 with the suction inlet of a pump 223 driven in any suitable manner and having a pressure outlet communicating with the conduit 224. This conduit 224 communicates through a pneumatic valve means 225 with one or the other of a pair of conduits 226 and 228. The conduit 226 communicates with a header 227 carrying a plurality of nozzles for directing treating liquid downwardly to the treating means at the region of the entrance end of the fabric just beyond the feed means 202, 203. The conduit 228 communicates with a header carrying a plurality of nozzles 229 for directing the treating liquid downwardly through the treating means at a location downstream of the header 227 situated more distant from the feed .means 202, 203. Thus, the nozzles 229 are situated directly over the series of idler rollers 205. It is to be noted that the nozzles connected to the header 227 are designed to provide a lesser flow of liquid in a given unit of time than the nozzles 229.

The pneumatic valve means 225 includes a valve member 230 connected to a valve stem 231 which terminates in a piston 232, slidable within a double-acting pneumatic cylinder 233. The pneumatic circuit which is not illustrated and which is in communication with the cylinder 233 is capable of acting on the piston 232 so as to displace the valve member 230 from the position shown in FIG. 5, where it cuts off communication between the conduits 224 and 226 and establishes communication between the conduits 224 and 228, to the left as viewed in FIG. 5, to a position where it will cut off communication between the conduits 224 and 228 and will establish communication between the conduits 224 and 226.

When it is desired to wash fabric with this apparatus, through unillustrated pipes the washing liquor is introduced into the tank 201a which forms the lower part of the casing of the apparatus 201. As the level of the supplied washing liquor rises, this level may be sensed by a suitable float valve 240, for example, which will shut oft" the supply of liquor when a predetermined level thereof is reached. After thus filling the apparatus with the washing liquor, or simultaneously with the filling or prior to the filling thereof, the valve 209 is placed in its open position so as to establish communication between the collecting tank means 207 and the recirculating means, and at this time the valve means 225 is placed in the position shown in FIG. 5 cutting off communication between the conduits 224 and 226 and establishing communication between the conduits 224 and 228. The fabric 204 is now fed by the feed means 202, 203 through the treatlng means in which it is soaked in the washing liquor which upon passing through the treating means is received in the collecting tank means 207, the fabric 204 being squeezed as it is treated so that the treating liquid will be displaced from the fabric which is soaked with its treatmg liquid. The treating liquid, such as washing liquor, is thus collected within the tank means 207 and flows from the latter downwardly through the conduit 210 so as to be received in the vessel 219 from which it is pumped by the pump 223 back to the nozzles 229 which form part of the liquid supply means, this liquid supply means of this embodiment being completed by the header 227 and the nozzles connected thereto.

This operation is continued until the tank 201a is filled to the desired level, and thereafter the valve 209 is dis-.

placed to its closed position cutting off communication between the tank means 207 and the recirculating means. At the same time, the valve 211 is displaced to its open position, so that the water which is collected within the tank means 207 will flow out through the discharge means 212. This latter operation will now continue until all of the water is discharged, and then filling of the casing 201a can be repeated. These operations can be repeated as many times as desired.

In the event that operations such as milling operations are to be carried out, then suitable known treating solutions are introduced into the vessel 219, and in this case also the amount of treating liquid received in the vessel 219 can be regulated by a suitable float valve or the like. The pump 223 will now withdraw the milling or other treating solution from the vessel 219 and will deliver it to the pressure outlet conduit 224. At this time the valve means 225 has been acted upon so that the valve member 230 is displaced to the left from the position thereof as shown in FIG. 5, thus cutting off communication between the conduits 224 and 228 and providing communication between the conduits 224 and 226, so that the milling or other treating solution will in this case be delivered to the header 227 through the conduit 226, so as to discharge through the nozzles carried by the header 227 in the region of the entrance end of the passage which forms the treating means. Thus, at this time the liquid supply means 227, 229 will not receive any liquid at its nozzles 229 but instead will deliver the liquid through the header 227 and the nozzles connected thereto.

The treating solution thus reaches the fabric and upon being squeezed therefrom is again collected in the collecting tank means 207 so as to flow therefrom back to the vessel 219 of the recirculating means, the valve 209 being open at this time while the valve 211 is closed. When operations such as the milling operations have been completed, the valve 211 is displaced to its open position and the valve 209 is closed, so that now the treating liquor will be discharged.

Of course, when washing operations are carried out it is also possible to introduce the washing liquor initially into the tank 207 or into the vessel 219 instead of directly supplying it to the chamber 201a.

Of course, different operations are possible with the circuit of FIG. 5.

In the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 6, it is contemplated that channel 308 be always formed, on one of its sides, of the usual set of rollers 309 pivotally interconnected to one another through the connecting rods 340. However, on the contrary of the embodiment shown at FIG. 1, it is provided that wall 321, located immediately downstream to rollers 305, 306, is stationary instead of partaking to the swinging movement of the nearest roller in the set. That is, the flat wall 321 is secured between the side walls of the machine and has, facing the first of the roller set, a curved substantially semicylindrical surface 380, the diameter of which corresponds to that of the rollers and the centre of curvature of which corresponds to the axis of pin 381, the end pair of the rods being pivoted thereto (obviously, FIG. 6 shows only one of said two rods, such as 382).

Rollers 309 are driven by a reduction unit (not shown) through a cam 383, which by means of a connecting rod 384 drives a substantially pentagonal plate 385, on two adjoining apices of which connecting rod 384 and a rod 386 are pivoted, respectively, the latter serving to drive the next pentagonal plate 387 controlling a different pair of rollers 309.

Each pentagonal plate is fulcrumed at an apex 388 to the machine frame, while on two apices laterally located to the aforementioned apex two rods 389, 390 are pivoted and drive rollers 309.

The interconnection of the various rollers 309 (by means of the connecting rods 382), as well as the connection of rods 389, 390 to the rollers correspond to those as shown and disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2.

According to a furthr embodiment of the invention, diagrammatically shown at FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings, there is provided, as in the previous embodiments, a kinematic set or chain of rollers 400 pivotally connected to one another by the usual rods 401. The bottom wall 402 is fixed as at FIG. 6. The first roller, as seen from the left, is pivotally'attached through rods 401 to a stationary pin 403. Drive to rollers 401 is effected by a pair of driving shafts 404 operated in any known way. A number of cams 405 are mounted, suitably offset to one another (at 180), on said shafts. Said cams carry the connecting rods 406 coupled by the spherical heads 407 and rods 408 which are connected to rollers 400, as disclosed for the previous embodiments. In this embodiment the only change is for the mechanism serving to operate the pivoted chain of rollers jointly specifying one of the channel walls, namely the bottom wall. The inventive concept is unaltered.

According to a further embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the various rollers 500, defining the working channel, are driven by a mechanism equivalent to that at FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings. However, rollers 500 are not interconnected to one another as disclosed and shown for the preceding embodiments; they are, instead, free, being however held at the correct operative positions by an arrangement hereinafter described. Rollers 500 are fixed on axes 501, or rotatably mounted thereon. Ball bearings 502 are keyed on the projecting portions of such axes, the external diameter thereof being somewhat larger than those for the rollers. Ball bearings 502 of each axis 501 are maintained at a mutual contact by a pair of pusher devices, designated at 503, one of them for each side of the machine. Such pusher devices, supported by the stationary machine frame, comprise a cylinder 504 wherein a piston 506 slides against a spring 505, the piston having at an end thereof a fork 507, betwen the legs of which a ball hearing 508 is supported and directly presses against the first of bearings 502. Herein, the rollers are driven by a mechanism identical to that shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

In a further embodiment shown at FIG. 11, operation of the chain of rollers 600, interconnected to one another as disclosed for the embodiments of FIGS. 6, 7, 10 and 11, is provided by a set of double-acting pneumatic or hydraulic jacks 601, being controlled, for example, through electromagnetic valves 602 interlocked to a programming device 603. The programming device is here shown as a variable-speed electric motor 604, the shaft 605 of which operates two suitably mutually offset cams 606, that is, such as to provide for alternative excitation of the valve windings 607. Thus, the pressurized fluid, as supplied from pump P and drawn from tank 608, reaches at different intervals the upper or lower chambers for the two pairs of jacks. The four jacks 601 pertain to two different units, each of which being formed of alternate jacks. Manifolds 611, 612, terminating on the same valve 602, serve to operate one unit; manifolds 613, 614, terminating on the other valve, serve to operate the other unit of jacks. The valves have outlet conduits 615 terminating at tank 608.

Cams 606 operate on contacts 616 in series with valve windings 607.

The jacks are pivoted at 617 at any fixed location of the machine frame.

When motor 604 is operated, cams 606 will provide for alternative excitation of valves 607, whereby as one series of rollers 600 is raised, the other is lowered, and so on.

A further embodiment is shown in a diagrammatic fashion at FIG. 12. In this embodiment, rollers 700, defining one of the walls for fabric passage channel, are interconnected to one another and to connecting rods 701 operating the same as shown and disclosed in connection with the preceding embodiments. Particularly, as in FIG. 11, the last roller in the set is pivoted by rods 702 on a stationary shaft 703. At the lower end thereof, said connecting rods 701 are pivoted on a pin 704, which is offset mounted on a gear wheel 705 carried on a shaft 706 rotatably supported in any known way by the machine frame. The several gear wheels 705 intermesh and are operated by a motor, not shown, such as through gear wheel 707. Rotation of the latter gear wheel will cause the remaining wheels to rotate in the directions as shown by the arrows, thereby providing the lowering for one set of rollers and the concomitant raising for the other set. Each set is formed of alternate rollers.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for carrying out fabric treatments such as washing, fulling, felting, milling, and the like, elongated passage means for guiding the fabric along a given path during treatment thereof, said elongated passage means having an entrance end through which the fabric enters into said passage means a dischargeend through which the fabric discharges from said passage means, and said passage means being defined at least in part by a pair of opposed surfaces between which the fabric moves during treatment thereof, one of said opposed surfaces being composed at least in part of a series of compressing elements arranged in a row longitudinally of said passage means and each extending transversely with respect to said passage means, said series of compressing elements being situated adjacent to each other in said row and including first and second sets of compressing elements arranged in said row with said first set of compressing elements respectively alternating with and situated between said second set of compressing elements, and reciprocating means operatively connected to said elements for reciprocating the latter simultaneously while displacing said first set of elements toward and away from the other of said opposed surfaces simultaneously with the displacement of said second set of compressing elements away from and toward said other opposed surface to provide an undulatory compression of fabric between said surfaces with said first set of elements reciprocating simultaneously and oppositely with respect to said second set of elements, adjusting means operatively connected with said other opposed surface for displacing the latter toward and away from said one of said op posed surfaces to adjust the distance between said opposed surfaces for controlling the compressive forces which act on the fabric which is treated, and feed means situated at said entrance end of said elongated passage means for feeding the fabric which is treated into said passage means through said entrance end thereof for advancing fabric along said passage means and for coacting with said adjusting means for applying to the fabric compressive forces directed longitudinally of the passage means while said compressing elements coact with the other of said opposed surfaces for applying to the fabric compressive forces extending transversely of said elongated passage means.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein each element includes a single roller.

3. The combination of claim 1 and wherein each element includes a pair of parallel rollers.

4. The combination of claim 1 and wherein each element includes an elongated plate extending transversely of said passage means.

5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein each plate terminates in a pair of opposed edge portions extending transversely of said passage means and curved away from said other surface thereof.

6. The combination of claim 1 and wherein each compressing element reciprocates back and forth along a given stroke, and adjusting means operatively connected with said reciprocating means for adjusting the length of said stroke of each compressing element.

7. The combination of claim 1 and wherein at least one link extends between each pair of successive compressing elements of said series and has a pair of opposed ends pivotally connected to each pair of successive elements, repectively.

8. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said reciprocating means includes a plurality of elongated reciprocating rods respectively connected to said compressing elements and being directed from the latter away from said other of said opposed surfaces of said passage means, a plurality of swing-levers respectively having stationary turning axes and being pivotally connected with said rods for reciprocating the latter and said elements therewith during swinging of said swing-levers back and forth through given arcs, a plurality of links extending between and interconnecting said swing-levers for simultaneously swinging the latter about said stationary axes, a crank lever turnable about a stationary axis and operatively connected to one of said links for reciprocating the latter substantially longitudinally so as to reciprocate all of said links and to simultaneously swing and swing-levers through said arcs during turning of said crank lever back and forth through a given are, and a rotary crank 14 operatively connected with said crank lever for turning the latter back and forth through the latter arc.

9. The combination of claim '8 and wherein said rotary crank includes a rotary disc and a connecting rod connected to said crank lever and pivotally connected to said disc at a location spaced from the axis thereof.

10. The combination of claim 9 and wherein an adjusting means adjusts the connection of said connecting rod to said crank lever for adjusting the are through which the latter swings so as to adjust the strokes through which said compressing elements are reciprocated.

11. The combination of claim 9 and wherein said rods include first and last rods and a plurality of rods situated therebetween, said swing-levers including a pair of bell cranks respectively connected to said first and last rods and a plurality of T-levers respectively connected to pairs of said rods which are situated between said first and last rods, said links forming end-to-end extensions of each other and being connected to arms of said bell cranks and T-levers.

12. The combination of claim 11 and wherein said crank lever is itself in the form of a bell crank, and said reciprocating means including a link interconnecting an arm of the latter bell crank with an arm of the bell crank which is connected to the first of said rods.

13. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said other surface of said passage means is formed by a row of idle rollers each extending transversely of said passage means and said idle rollers being arranged in a row extending longitudinally of said passage means opposite said compressing elements.

14. The combination of claim 13 and wherein a frame carries said idle rollers, and said adjusting means being operatively connected with said frame for adjusting the position thereof so as to adjust the location of said idle rollers with respect to said compressing elements.

15. The combination of claim 1 said feed means forming the only means for advancing fabric through said passage means.

16. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said other of said opposed surfaces of said passage means is formed with spaces situated longitudinally along said passage means, and liquid-supply means located at the side of said other surface opposite from said one surface of said passage means for directing treating liquid through said spaces into said passage means for engaging fabric compressed therein by said compressing elements.

17. The combination of claim 1 and wherein a pair of feed rolls are situated at the entrance end of said passage means for feeding fabric through said entrance end into said passage means to be treated therein, said feed rolls respectively having parallel shafts and said passage means including a pair of frames respectively supported for swinging movement by said shafts and respectively connected operatively with said pair of opposed surfaces.

18. The combination of claim 17 and wherein that frame which is connected to said one opposed surface carries the first of said series of compressing elements and swings about its supporting shaft while reciprocating with said first compressing element.

19. The combination of claim 17 and wherein an adjusting means is operatively connected to that frame which is connected to said other of said opposed surfaces for adjusting the angular position thereof so as to adjust the distance between said opposed surfaces.

20. In a machine for subjecting fabrics to treatments such as washing, fulling, felting, milling, or the like, treating means for treating fabric while providing for free downward movement of treating liquid through said treating means, liquid-supply means located over said treating means for directing treating liquid thereto for movement downwardly therethrough, collecting tank means situated beneath said treating means for collecting treating liquid which has passed downwardly therethrough, discharge means operatively connected with said 15 collecting tank means for discharging treating liquid therefrom, recirculating means communicating with said collecting tank means and with said liquid-supply means for recirculating treating liquid from said tank means to said liquid-supply means, and valve means coacting with said tank means, said discharge means, and said recirculating means and having a pair of positions for establishing communication between said tank means and discharge means in one of said positions and for establishing communication betweensaid tank means and recirculating means in the other of said positions, so that the liquid from said tank means can either be recirculated or discharged.

21. The combination of claim 20 and wherein said recirculating means includes a vessel for receiving liquid from said tank means, and heating means in said vessel for heating the liquid therein, so that the recirculated liquid is heated.

22. The combination of claim 21 and wherein a filter means is also carried by said vessel for filtering the liquid which. flows into the latter from said tank means.

23. The combination of claim 20 and wherein said liquid-supply means includes nozzles situated over said treating means for directing the treating liquid thereto, and a pump for pumping the treating liquid to said nozzles.

24. The combination of claim 20 and wherein said liquid-supply means includes two sets of nozzles for directing liquid to said treating means, a pair of conduit means respectively communicating with said sets of nozzles, pump means communicating with both of said conduit means, and valve means for establishing communication between'said pump means and one or the other of said conduit ,means so that the liquid can be supplied to said treating means through one or the other of said setsofnozzles.- i 25. The combination of claimland wherein said re ciprocating means, includes a plurality of reciprocating. motors actuated'by fluid under' pressure. 26. The combination-of claim 1 and wherein said reciprocating means includes a plurality of drivingly con: nected transmission means;in the form of crank and lever; mechanisms. q 27. The combination ofclaim 1 and ,wherein said; reciprocating m'eansincludes a plurality of cam means on at least a commondn'ving. shaft, 1 each of, said cam means being drivingly connected with one v,of said el e-,; ments. I q 1 28. The combination of claim *1 and wherein atleast;

a pressing member acts on said compressing elerncntstop; obtain a mutual contact between said elements. I

R ferences Cited 4. UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/18'65 Clarke 384124;

558,305, 4/1896 flckhanl 68-'97f FOREIGNPATENTSV 59,773 2/1954 France.

912,447 5/1954 Germany. j

448,440] 5/1949 ,Italy.

WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner US. 01. xln i 68-43, 177, 205 

